Problem of the blink and closed eyes

darkosaric · Jun 2, 2016

After using Leica for long time - I wanted a change. On my vacation in Mai beside M6 I used also nikon F3 with legendary nikkor 105/2.5 Ai. It is a perfect combination, and I like it a lot.
But I have noticed again that with SRL I have a problem that I am never sure did the person closed eyes in the critical moment or not. With range finder I see it and then if needed I make another shoot.

Leaving beside eternal flame SRL vs range finder - do you have this problem as well when using SLR? If yes - how do you overcome this issue?

Carriage · Jun 2, 2016

Are you talking about photos of people that are posing or candid shots?

rpavich · Jun 2, 2016

darkosaric said:
After using Leica for long time - I wanted a change. On my vacation in Mai beside M6 I used also nikon F3 with legendary nikkor 105/2.5 Ai. It is a perfect combination, and I like it a lot.
But I have noticed again that with SRL I have a problem that I am never sure did the person closed eyes in the critical moment or not. With range finder I see it and then if needed I make another shoot.

Leaving beside eternal flame SRL vs range finder - do you have this problem as well when using SLR? If yes - how do you overcome this issue?

Yes, I do. My wife is the worst at it too. That's one big reason I love my M6, I can just stare at the person and hit the shutter at the proper time, when their expression is right, and their eyes are opened. I don't know what it is but with my K1000 and it's louder mirror/shutter sound it invites folks to blink!

darkosaric · Jun 2, 2016

Carriage said:
Are you talking about photos of people that are posing or candid shots?

Both, but more candid shots.

benjiboy · Jun 2, 2016

You just take more shots, one of them is sure to have the eyes open.

MattKing · Jun 2, 2016

If you are using flash, ask if they saw "red" when you took the photo. If so, they blinked.

Gerald C Koch · Jun 2, 2016

Hence the use of "Watch the birdy." Photographers have been aware of this problem, well, since there were photographers. You grab the subjects attention just as you press the shutter. This is said to cut down on blinking. The problem of blinking is far worse the greater the number of subjects. The old 2N relationship.

benjiboy · Jun 2, 2016

Gerald C Koch said:
Hence the use of "Watch the birdy." Photographers have been aware of this problem, well, since there were photographers. You grab the subjects attention just as you press the shutter. This is said to cut down on blinking. The problem of blinking is far worse the greater the number of subjects. The old 2N relationship.

That's true Gerald, ask any wedding photographer.

bdial · Jun 2, 2016

One technique that may help would be for you to keep both eyes open, so that when your "camera eye" goes blind as the shutter releases, you can still monitor what the subject is doing with your other eye.
It takes some practice, and is easier with some cameras than others, but doable.

It's a really helpful technique when you are working close to fast and possibly dangerous action.

An external finder is another possibility, though that kind of negates the value of using an SLR. Finally, if you are doing formal portraits, working from a tripod might be a possibility. Once you've framed the shot you don't need to be peering through the camera, and you can concentrate on interacting with your subject, and watching for the right expression and that the eyes are open.

gone · Jun 2, 2016

Funny, I've never had a closed eye portrait in my entire life no matter what camera was used. My style is to just talk and keep things very casual and normal so they forget that the camera is there. Working quickly is also helpful. If you're having someone sit perfectly still and they're expecting the shutter to be tripped, that could be the problem. Don't own a flash, and never use artificial lighting either. Available light only.

I must be the only person alive that doesn't like the 105 2.5 Nikkor, and always thought the FD 85 1.8, FD 135 2.5, and Leica R 90 lenses (both the 2.0 Summicron and first model 2.8 Elmarit) were capable of much more flattering images and had beautiful bokeh.

cliveh · Jun 2, 2016

An SLR is a wonderful camera, as long as you don't mind not seeing what you are taking at the moment of capture.

TheRook · Jun 2, 2016

Do what many seasoned portrait photographers do - trip the shutter immediately after a blink. Usually blinks are several seconds apart. In other words, use a blink as a cue to fire the shutter. By the time you react, the eyes will likely be already open again.

darkosaric · Jun 2, 2016

Thanks you all for feedback. Here is one example of what I am talking about: not a classic portrait, and I wanted the man to be exact on this place comparing to the background. I am not using flash, and as it can be seen - second shot in not an option. It looks like best is to stick to the rangefinder on the street.

cowanw · Jun 2, 2016

On the other hand having a rangefinder would not have stopped him blinking, nor would you have been able to stop your finger in that short a time. If a second shot is not possible it does not matter what camera you use.

darkosaric · Jun 2, 2016

cowanw said:
On the other hand having a rangefinder would not have stopped him blinking, nor would you have been able to stop your finger in that short a time. If a second shot is not possible it does not matter what camera you use.

This is maybe true - I almost never have closed eye problem when using rangefinder. And even in rare situations when I have it - I know it is there, so no disappointment comes later when film is developed.

albada · Jun 3, 2016

cliveh said:
An SLR is a wonderful camera, as long as you don't mind not seeing what you are taking at the moment of capture.

You can get both advantages if you shoot with a Canon Pellix.
I'm not being helpful.

Mark Overton

nolanr66 · Jun 3, 2016

Shoot faster before tension sets in.

BrianShaw · Jun 3, 2016

nolanr66 said:
Shoot faster before tension sets in.

Yes! Or shoot slower... after the tension subsides.

I have a couple of saying... one of which is "Liars lie." The corollary is "Blinkers blink."

One of my dearest family members is rarely a photographic subject because she is a blinker. I swear that she keeps one eye on the trigger finger and that is what incites the blink response. It happens so often that it seems intentional. So what I do is tell her I'll count to 3 and then I release the shutter at 2.5 or 4. Shutter release at 2.5 seems to work best because at 4 there is often an expression of "I blinked but the camera did not take my picture" on her face.

In my experience it has nothing to do with the type of camera or viewfinder black-out.

RalphLambrecht · Jun 4, 2016

rpavich said:
Yes, I do. My wife is the worst at it too. That's one big reason I love my M6, I can just stare at the person and hit the shutter at the proper time, when their expression is right, and their eyes are opened. I don't know what it is but with my K1000 and it's louder mirror/shutter sound it invites folks to blink!

people blink more when nervous;try to put them at ease;yelling at your kids won't help...Dad.

ransel · Jun 22, 2016

When I was doing portraits professionally, once I was composed and ready, had the smile I wanted, I would tell the subject to blink once for me and then trip the shutter right after the blink.

Problem of the blink and closed eyes

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